طراحی برای ارگونومی های ساخت و ساز

Relative to other industries in South Africa and construction industries worldwide, the construction process generates a disproportionate number of fatalities, injuries and disease, and both the direct and indirect costs contribute to the cumulative cost of construction. Designers influence construction ergonomics directly and indirectly. The direct influence is as a result of design, details and method of fixing, and depending upon the type of procurement system, supervisory and administrative interventions. The indirect influence is as a result of the type of procurement system used, pre-qualification, project duration, partnering, and the facilitating of pre-planning. The purpose of the paper is to present the results of a study conducted among architectural technologists in South Africa using a self-administered questionnaire, to determine their perceptions and practices relative to construction ergonomics. Descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and a measure of central tendency were computed from the collected data. The following constitute the salient findings. Cost, quality, and time are more important to architectural technologists than construction ergonomics and project health and safety (H&S). Ergonomics during the user phase is more important to architectural technologists than the other phases. A range of design related aspects impact on construction ergonomics. To a degree, construction ergonomics is considered on most design, procurement, and construction occasions by architectural technologists. Experience predominates in terms of the means by which ergonomics knowledge was acquired. A range of aspects have the potential to contribute to an improvement in knowledge and the application of construction ergonomics. The paper concludes that architectural technologists contribute to construction ergonomics, but that there is potential for and a clear need for enhanced contributions. Recommendations include the inclusion of construction ergonomics in architectural technologists’ tertiary education, and continuing professional development (CPD), to remedy shortcomings in practitioners’ knowledge.